Steering "play"

What do think is the problem? I have to turn the steering wheel .5" before I can actually turn the wheels. Please help.

Possible faults !
Steering box, rag joint coupler, tie rod or the crush cage is breaking apart at the steering shaft weld...what ever you do don't drive it anywhere until the source of the problem is found and corrected.

Listen to Alan. I had a little slop show up this summer. A Tie Rod end was so loose it was scary. Replace both sides if that's the issue. Cheap & a piece of cake to do. Put her on a lift or solid stands and start looking for the loose/worn out parts by shaking and feeling and isolating... Get a manual and work down the list..it will probably be easy to find the culprit part. The good news is it's fixable and most of the parts are easy on the pocketbook.

If you put the car on stands, shake it before you crawl under the car to do your "discovery/exploritory" shaking. Much better to find out is not as solid as you thought BEFORE you get underneath.

That explains the pop-knot and memory loss I suffered this summer.

1/2" Play ? You guys ought to drive one of the old Land Rovers I had. Factory manual says if you have more than 3" of play in the steering wheel you need to adjust it!

No wonder my Speedster feels like a racer. I am amazed how tight if feels on the road compared to my past toys.

Tony

Thanks to all of you.

I thought proper adjustment was up to about 1" of play?
Ron

Varies on the condition of the steering box and related components as they wear a bit ...ideally it should be 3/4" - 1" max.